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Comedian Rodney Dangerfield dies at 82

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Rodney Dangerfield died Tuesday at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles at the age of 82, a publicist for the legendary comedian and actor said.

Publicist Kevin Sasaki said Dangerfield died following what he called a difficult recovery from heart valve replacement surgery Aug. 25. Dangerfield's doctors said he suffered a small stroke after the surgery and developed infectious and abdominal complications from which he did not recover.

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Dangerfield -- whose real name was Jacob Cohen -- had been comatose for weeks following the surgery, but regained consciousness during the past week.

The comic -- who published his autobiography, "It Ain't Easy Bein' Me" earlier this year -- had undergone brain surgery in 2003 to reduce the risk associated with heart valve replacement.

He was immensely popular among his fellow comedians and credited with giving many comedians -- including Jim Carrey -- their first major professional breaks.

A memorial service is currently being planned in Los Angeles and will be announced shortly.

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